New ST Coach: Bob Ligashesky

[Whitey23]

Here’s a kick in the nads. According to the PFF grading system we were 81st in the country for special teams, tied with Bowling Green.

I posted the below earlier in the thread from TNIAAM. BIll Connelly's metric has a better view of their unit. I'll also note that Lovie Smith has always tried to make special teams a strength so that might have helped his cause as the position coach at Illinois.


His Bowling Green special teams unit was ranked 53rd in SP+ this year — a marked improvement from an Orange group that struggled throughout the fall.

Prior to Bowling Green, Ligashesky was ran special teams from 2016 to 2020 with Illinois, where he had two top-40 squads by special teams SP+ rating: No. 7 in 2019 and No. 34 in 2017. He also had a group ranked 128th in 2018, but that seems like an outlier based on the other results.
—-
Cuse was 117 this year.

 

[Cuse12]

A Lot better comments on him on the BG board then there were when we took Sterlin Gilbert, where they literally laughed at us for hiring him

Sounds crazy that we should take the word of fans on message board... but now days this actually means A LOT. they were literally spot on with their criticisms of SG

 

[Chip]

Sounds crazy that we should take the word of fans on message board... but now days this actually means A LOT. they were literally spot on with their criticisms of SG

I still say that no fan base was ever more on point with their concerns (to put it nicely) than Clemson fans and Rob Spence. They said get ready for all tunnel screens all the time. We said yeah right, you're just crybabies.

Then it was all tunnel screens all the time.

 

[tep624]

I still say that no fan base was ever more on point with their concerns (to put it nicely) than Clemson fans and Rob Spence. They said get ready for all tunnel screens all the time. We said yeah right, you're just crybabies.

Then it was all tunnel screens all the time.

The USF fans were pretty spot on with Gilbert too. As much as we hoped otherwise.

 

[721Comstock]

The USF fans were pretty spot on with Gilbert too. As much as we hoped otherwise.

Ditto the Nebraska fans & Cav.

They were glad to be rid of him, and warned us it likely wouldn’t go well.

Cant say they were wrong.

 

[Franz69]

We recently offered this 5* kicker. Something to keep an eye on:

Class of 2022 - K Grady Gross (AZ) Offered

SU offers 5* kicker

syracusefan.com

 

[721Comstock]

We recently offered this 5* kicker. Something to keep an eye on:

Class of 2022 - K Grady Gross (AZ) Offered

SU offers 5* kicker

syracusefan.com

Well, Williams was a 5* kicker too….

Howzabout we get any another former HS QB who switched to kicking late, and went on to contend for multiple Heismans, before moving on to the NFL?

Worked great the last time.

 

[rrlbees]

I posted the below in the thread from TNIAAM. BIll Connelly's metric has a better view of their unit. I'll also note that Lovie Smith has always tried to make special teams a strength so that might have helped his cause as the position coach at Illinois.


His Bowling Green special teams unit was ranked 53rd in SP+ this year — a marked improvement from an Orange group that struggled throughout the fall.

Prior to Bowling Green, Ligashesky was ran special teams from 2016 to 2020 with Illinois, where he had two top-40 squads by special teams SP+ rating: No. 7 in 2019 and No. 34 in 2017. He also had a group ranked 128th in 2018, but that seems like an outlier based on the other results.
—-
Cuse was 117 this year.

Not that my opinion matters nor is anything an exact science, but I prefer PFF. They evaluate every single play, every single player. And every NFL team subscribes to their services.

 

[All4SU]

Well, Williams was a 5* kicker too….

Howzabout we get any another former HS QB who switched to kicking late, and went on to contend for multiple Heismans, before moving on to the NFL?

Worked great the last time.

Wasn’t Williams hurt after like the third game?

 

[PhatOrange]

Well, Williams was a 5* kicker too….

Howzabout we get any another former HS QB who switched to kicking late, and went on to contend for multiple Heismans, before moving on to the NFL?

Worked great the last time.

I know Williams punted but we still don’t know if he was brought in to punt or kick or both. I didn’t pay much attention to his recruitment but I would’ve sworn he was looked at more as a place kicker. We shall see I guess.

 

[RMH44]

100%. This is a good hire.

Thank God we've got your blessing.

 

[SuFTW]

I know Williams punted but we still don’t know if he was brought in to punt or kick or both. I didn’t pay much attention to his recruitment but I would’ve sworn he was looked at more as a place kicker. We shall see I guess.

He was brought in as a punter with the ability to be be Andre’s backup at place kicker.

 

[cayugacuse]

Looks like a good hire. I'm hoping he does not coach another position. More than enough to do to oversee all the different groups.

Kickoff team. KIckoff return team.
Punt team. Punt return team. (fake punt offense and defense)
Field goal team. Field goal defense team. Extra Point Teams.
2 point conversion. 2 point conversion defense.
onsides kick team. onsides kick defense team.

Also coaching time management, penalties. Coaching specialist, Kickers, punters, and long snappers.

 

[Consigliere]

At Bowling Green their Kicker went 19-20 on field goals. Tied for 1st in all of college football in %. Was pretty abysmal all years prior.
Their Punter had his best season of his career as well.

Just don’t expect a STC to help much with kicking mechanics. Coordinating personnel and scheming on returns, coverage and kick block teams is where you might see an impact.

 

[Consigliere]

Think the expectation was that Williams would punt, kick off and hopefully hold on placements. Struggled with consistency so he was tasked with concentrating on punts and we brought in two walk on punters.

In retrospect the focus on special teams in the spring event might have been telling

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Just don’t expect a STC to help much with kicking mechanics. Coordinating personnel and scheming on returns, coverage and kick block teams is where you might see an impact.

Generally I don't think he will make of a impact in the actually kicking or punting of the ball. Although if they have a slight tick a STC can recognize it while a regular coach would not.

His impact will likely be in organization. Too many penalties, poor coverage, and no blocked kicks last year.

 

[Ozone!]

For our program; this is a good hire, experience coupled with college success and NFL experience. As far as any positional coaching: we won’t know until the whole plan gets rolled out!

 

[shandeezy7]

Just don’t expect a STC to help much with kicking mechanics. Coordinating personnel and scheming on returns, coverage and kick block teams is where you might see an impact.

What about how to properly set and hold a football on field goals? Can he teach that?

 

[Consigliere]

What about how to properly set and hold a football on field goals? Can he teach that?

Ideally the holder has some basic skills before getting to college and you don't have to teach that on the fly to someone who has never held for placement before a month before kickoff.

 

[orangeinohio]

Need to recruit Australia for a punter

 

[sutomcat]

I would expect Bob to make an impact with our recruiting in Western Pennsylvania, where he is from.

Harlan on recruiting: East Allegheny’s Banks nearing decision on college | Trib HSSN

East Allegheny's T.J. Banks isn't wearing around a Mountaineers hat, Owls shirt or Illini shorts, no outward hints about his future school. But it's likely

tribhssn.triblive.com

 

[orangepassion]

I would expect Bob to make an impact with our recruiting in Western Pennsylvania, where he is from.

Harlan on recruiting: East Allegheny’s Banks nearing decision on college | Trib HSSN

East Allegheny's T.J. Banks isn't wearing around a Mountaineers hat, Owls shirt or Illini shorts, no outward hints about his future school. But it's likely

tribhssn.triblive.com

At this rate, it looks like it might not be until next recruiting period

 

[BillSU]

Looks like a very good hire.

Just caught up with this post. My son is a personal friend of Bob Ligashesky.

Bill got to know many players and management as the sports anchor at WPXI/NBC in Pittsburgh.

Had a sports show on WPXI with Jerome Bettis on Fridays to review the upcoming game who I have also met through my son.

My son got to know Bob, a Pittsburgh native, personally when he was the Steelers ST coach from 2007-8-09 and Bill, who was covering the entire team and staff for NBC locally, said he was a special guy, really down to earth and a great coach.

Relationships in sports are unique. When Bill’s son, my grandson, Ian graduated from BIG RED high school here in Steubenville, Ohio and was an All-State/All Eastern Ohio Region kicker the first person he took him to see was Ligashesky.

 

[djorange1989]

Just caught up with this post. My son is a personal friend of Bob Ligashesky.

Bill got to know many players and management as the sports anchor at WPXI/NBC in Pittsburgh.

Had a sports show on WPXI with Jerome Bettis on Fridays to review the upcoming game who I have also met through my son.

My son got to know Bob, a Pittsburgh native, personally when he was the Steelers ST coach from 2007-8-09 and Bill, who was covering the entire team and staff for NBC locally, said he was a special guy, really down to earth and a great coach.

Relationships in sports are unique. When Bill’s son, my grandson, Ian graduated from BIG RED high school here in Steubenville, Ohio and was an All-State/All Eastern Ohio Region kicker the first person he took him to see was Ligashesky.

I love this post! Awesome that your son was(still is?) a sports anchor at WPXI and love the story about your grandson, you are a blessed man, Bill. way cool. and love what I am hearing about Bob. I have to imagine him walking into a recruits home in Western PA wearing his 2008 Super Bowl ring would really make an impression! let's get him in the fold officially and out on the road!

 

[Ernj]

Just caught up with this post. My son is a personal friend of Bob Ligashesky.

Bill got to know many players and management as the sports anchor at WPXI/NBC in Pittsburgh.

Had a sports show on WPXI with Jerome Bettis on Fridays to review the upcoming game who I have also met through my son.

My son got to know Bob, a Pittsburgh native, personally when he was the Steelers ST coach from 2007-8-09 and Bill, who was covering the entire team and staff for NBC locally, said he was a special guy, really down to earth and a great coach.

Relationships in sports are unique. When Bill’s son, my grandson, Ian graduated from BIG RED high school here in Steubenville, Ohio and was an All-State/All Eastern Ohio Region kicker the first person he took him to see was Ligashesky.

My next door neighbor was the sports reporter for Fox43 - not sure how long or when. He is out of the business now and coaching.